POLITICAL

SCIENCE
PRESENTATION

NAME: RAHUL VARMA

ROLL: B021
CLASS: SYBALLB ‘B’
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

 International relations is the study of the interaction of nation-states and non-

governmental organizations in fields such as politics, economics, and security.
Professionals work in academia, government, and non-profits to understand and
develop cooperative exchanges between nations that benefit commerce, security,
quality of life, and the environment.
 Norman Padelford and George Lincoln defined International Relations as “as the
interaction of State politics within the changing pattern of power relationships”.
EVOLUTION OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

 International Relations is at present passing through its sixth stage of development. It passed through three
stages before the end of the Second World War.

 The end of the Second World War saw the fourth stage of development of Inter­national Relations.

 The first stage of its development lasted up to the end of the First World War when emphasis was laid upon
diplomatic history.

 The fourth stage began with the end of the Second World War. The stage in the most conspicu­ous and
distinct as the Interest in the fourth stage of International Relations shifted from history, International law
and organization to factors which condition the behavior of States.
 The second stage concerned with the study of current events only, while the third stage emphasized the
formulation of inter­national relations through law and organization.
After the Second World War, there is a great change in the concept of sovereignty, nature of conflict
among nations, concept of national interest, and means to achieving it has occurred. This change has
come about in international relations due to the following factors:
 Politico-geographic setting:
The politico-geographic setting of the world has changed considerably after the end of the Second
World War. With decolonization, a number of new nations have developed that want to assert
themselves in the community of nations.
1. Increase in the number of the states:
The number of U.N. membership that was only 51 in 1945 has risen to 155. This shows that there is
almost a triple multiplication in the number of States. All the States are eager to assert their interest in
international relations. Consequently, the concept of national interest has also changed. The methods
of achieving national interest have also changed. In place of national interest, accommodation has to
be made for the international interest.
2. Rapid but uneven growth of population in various countries:
 Population is increasing rapidly throughout the world. But it is increasing unevenly. In China and India
it is growing at a terrific speed. It is estimated that by the year 2,000, Asia will have two-thirds of the
world’s people living in it.
 More population demands more production of food-stuffs. It drains fastly the mineral, food and energy
sources. It means housing shortage leading to over-crowding as also shrinking of living space.
 It means great pressure on services such as public health, education, transportation and the like. All this
will naturally lead to social frictions, tensions, competition and eventual conflict. Politics in the internal
sphere has its effect upon international politics leading to great explosion and destruction.
3. Ever widening gap between the Rich and Poor Countries:
 The gap in riches is also a result of over-population. The thickly popu­lated countries become poor due to lack of
proper resources.
 A vicious circle is set in which the rich countries get richer while the poor countries become poorer. The rich countries
are not ready to help the poor countries with the result that they become a target of jealously of the poor countries.
 A realisation has come upon the developing countries that their lot cannot be improved unless and until the
richer and developed countries help in the creation of a new international economic order where exploi­
tation of the poor and underdeveloped countries of the world stops.
4. MAD RACE FOR MODERNISATION AND DEVELOPMENT:
 All the new emergent States of the world are trying to modernize and develop them­selves. They have placed before
themselves the Western models of development.
 They want to attain the same standard of living as prevailing in those countries. In this attempt, they do not appear to be
a success since the conditions prevailing in Western countries are far different from those prevailing in their country.
 Moreover, the Western countries took centuries to achieve their present standard of modernisation and political
development while the new nations want to achieve the same results within only a few years. This is not possible. In their
effort, they have rather seen decline and decay.
 Internal circumstances influence external behavior of the States. This results sometimes in aggressive and dangerous
attitudes.
 CONCLUSION

International Relations has in this way undergone a considerable change in recent days.
The factors responsible for the change are still in the process and unexpected events
may happen in the near future as the world has stock-piles of nuclear weapons in spite
of the various efforts to evade a conflict anywhere in the world. The clash of interests
has shown itself everywhere. But no efforts have succeeded, as yet, to come to some
agreement.